Will Jonnu Smith finally change how the Miami Dolphins target tight ends?

The Miami Dolphins have averaged 26 factors per recreation since Mike McDaniel arrived by that includes a heavy dose of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Miami’s offense averages just below 34 move makes an attempt with the receiving duo seeing roughly 18 targets per recreation.

Miami’s receivers gashed opposing secondaries and the operating again group ranked fifth with 125 whole targets in 2023. The tight ends, nevertheless, had been ignored with simply 52 whole targets final season — a median of simply three per recreation.

Hill and Waddle will once more headline the unit however the addition of Jonnu Smith ought to pressure McDaniel to think about scripting tight-end targets for the primary time since arriving in Miami. A former third-round choose, Smith includes a dynamic skillset and is the one tight finish to achieve 20-plus mph as a ball service because the begin of the 2022 season, based on NFL Subsequent Gen Stats.

“It’s loads of acquainted ideas,” Smith mentioned of studying Miami’s offense. “I’ve been round this offense for fairly a while now – my first stint in Tennessee and clearly Atlanta. So coming in much more comfy with the terminology, much more comfy with the ideas and realizing what we wish finished as a offense. I might say the transition for me has been a fairly easy one.”

Smith joins the Dolphins after setting career-highs in receptions (50) and yards (582) final season with the Atlanta Falcons. He scored no less than 3 times in 4 of his eight seasons, setting a career-high with eight touchdowns in 2020.

“Man, the sky is the restrict with these guys,” Smith mentioned of becoming a member of the Dolphins. “I really feel like I’ve mentioned this yearly actually as a result of it’s been my sincere opinion. That’s simply the way in which my profession has went, that’s simply the journey I’ve been on and the individuals I’ve been round.”

Tight finish Durham Smythe was third on the Dolphins with 35 receptions final season, trailing simply Hill (119) and Waddle (72). Smythe completed with 366 receiving yards however couldn’t discover the tip zone. Smith takes over because the top-receiving risk amongst a good finish group that caught 41 whole passes in 2023.

“That is by far essentially the most explosive, gifted stacked group I’ve ever been part of,” Smith mentioned. “I’m not even going to say offensively, simply so far as a group. Now, what does that imply proper now at first of June?

“Nothing – we’ve acquired to go on the market and proceed to place the work in. Everyone knows that and all of us imagine in that. So so long as we’ve got the mindset that we all know who we’re and what we will do, and we are available right here and work with that mindset, I believe we shall be very glad with the outcomes.”